More than 100 shops on police land sealed in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: More than 100 shops built on police property in Hyderabad were sealed late on Monday, prompting protests by traders and heightening tensions between shopkeepers and police in the Chhoti Ghitti area.

According to Hyderabad District Police spokesperson State Officer Salahuddin, the action was carried out by him along with a heavy police contingent at a market next to the City Police Station in Chhoti Ghitti. He said around 100 shops were sealed in compliance with Supreme Court directives.

After learning about the operation, shopkeepers gathered at the site, where a heated confrontation reportedly took place between traders and police personnel and turned into a physical altercation. Police later completed the sealing of the shops. Traders then surrounded City Police Station and staged a protest at Chhoti Ghitti, raising slogans against the police.

Traders object to action

Affected shopkeepers said there was no dispute over the shops in Hyderabad and alleged that the matter had been taken to court unnecessarily. They said the case concerning the shops is pending before the Supreme Court and that the next hearing is scheduled for July 10, 2026.

The traders said they had cleared all earlier payments related to the shops, but the premises were sealed at night without prior notice. They added that goods worth millions of rupees remained inside the sealed outlets and warned that Hyderabad could be shut down if the seals were not removed immediately.

On Tuesday, the affected shopkeepers set up a protest camp outside the sealed shops at Chhoti Ghitti, where traders and workers remained present throughout the day.

Political and business leaders visit protest camp

Several political figures visited the protest site, including MQM-P Pakistan MNA Syed Waseem Hussain, MPA Rashid Khan and Hyderabad Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Tahir Majeed. They met the traders and assured them of support.

Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Adeel Siddiqui, PTI Hyderabad district president Mohsin Ghuman, Advocate Faisal Mughal and other leaders also visited the camp.

Siddiqui said the situation had developed because of a lack of communication, adding that police have properties in 15 districts and reports on those properties are to be submitted to the Supreme Court. He said a meeting had been held with SSP Hyderabad Shahzeb Chachar, who assured full cooperation. Siddiqui also said the chamber would present its position through its lawyer during the Supreme Court hearing on July 10.

"Chhoti Ghitti is the heart of Hyderabad and we will not allow it to be shut down," Siddiqui said.

He added that traders had already suffered losses worth billions of rupees because of the closure of the shops.

Meanwhile, SSP Hyderabad Shahzeb Chachar said the Supreme Court had issued clear directions to take police properties into custody and submit a report, and that this led to the action.